When the Solar Impulse Travels it Brings its Own Hangar

Since May 3^rd, the long range, solar-powered Solar Impulse aircraft has been soaring across the US in its attempt to circumnavigate the world. Starting at Moffet Field in California the craft has been slowly making its way across the vast plains of the United States stopping in Pheonix, Dallas and most recently St. Louis.

On Friday May 31^st , just days before the Solar Impulse was to leave Dallas for St. Louis a massive storm swept through the St. Louis area devastating the Lambert-St. Louis International airport where the aircraft was to land. In the aftermath of the storm, it was discovered the hanger meant to house the Solar Impulse was damaged. Given the detailed planning required for the Solar Impulse’s mission, the lack of a hangar could have left the plan in ruins.

The Solar Impulse, however, is bringing its own.

According to Nils Ryser, head of ground crew operations for the Solar Impulse project, “This mobile hanger… is intended to be used on an unplanned airport [landing].” And while the St. Louis stop was planned, the storm that preceded the Solar Impulses arrival wasn’t.

While the mere fact that the Solar Impulse team thought they might need a mobile aircraft hangar in the first place is remarkable, the building’s design is even more so. Made from a lightweight material sourced from the sailing world, the 289ft long (88m) 105ft wide mobile hanger can be inflated to a 36 ft (11m) tall height. Once fully inflated, which can take 10 hours, the 7,716lb (3,500kg) hanger can protect the Solar Impulse from wind gusts up to 62mph (100km/h). Incredibly, the Solar Impulse can continue to charge its batteries while sitting in its hanger, due to the translucency of the structure’s material.

For the next week or so, the Solar Impulse will remain at Lambert while it charges it batteries and undergoes system checks. Once it gets the all clear, the solar powered craft will begin the fourth leg of its journey across America, eventually arriving in Washington D.C.

Watch a Video of the Hanger Being Prepared:

Images and Video Courtesy of Solar Impulse